Protective cover of the departure ramp to the Gurschen glacier on the Gemsstock/Andermatt (Switzerland)

The novel application of nonwovens at the top station of the Gemsstock aerial ropeway in Andermatt permits to preserve the snow on the departure ramp to the Gurschen glacier throughout the year. With this environment-friendly measure and a substantially reduced machining effort it is now possible to guarantee access to the glacier which receded by approx. 20 m in the last 15 years.

The applied continuous-filament nonwoven Ice Protector OPTIFORCE^™ produced by Fritz Landolt AG was already used with success in comparable test projects in Austria. It protects the layer of snow from heat and UV radiation, filters out other natural influences of the environment and in this way largely prevents the snow and ice from melting. The 2-layer composite nonwoven is needle punched, ecologically compatible and free of harmful substances. It has been used in millions of square metres in below-grade, tunnel and hydraulic construction for many years.

The pilot project on the Gemsstock impressively demonstrates the beneficial effects of a future-oriented combination of nature and technology in the interest of safety.